Architecture and method for using IEEE 802.11-like wireless LAN system to emulate private land mobile radio system (PLMRS) radio service

ABSTRACT

An architecture is described for providing IP push-to-talk (IPP2T) service using a wireless local area network (WLAN) serving a plurality of subscriber terminals (STs), having at least one broadband access network terminal (BANT), the BANT coupled to and interacting with at least one of a plurality of Access Points (APs) via a local area network (LAN), the plurality of APs in communication with the plurality of subscriber terminals; a multicast-enabled network, the multicast-enabled network coupled to and interacting with at least one BANT via a broadband access network; an IP network coupled to, and interacting with, the multicast-enabled network via an edge router; and a WLAN mobile radio service (WLMRS) controller (WLMRSC) coupled to and interacting with the IP network via a multicast-enabled router (MR).

This application is a continuation of U.S. application Ser. No.11/928,409, filed Oct. 30, 2007, now U.S. Pat. No. 7,933,225B2, which isa continuation application of U.S. application Ser. No. 10/207,702,filed Jul. 26, 2002, now U.S. Pat. No. 7,307,963 B2 which claimspriority under 35 USC §119(e) to U.S. provisional patent applicationser. no. 60/309,956, filed on Aug. 3, 2001, the contents of each of theabove cited applications is herein incorporated by reference in theirentirety.

This present application is related to U.S. application Ser. No.10/207,681, entitled, “Method and Apparatus for Delivering IPP2T(IP-Push-to-Talk) Wireless LAN Mobile Radio Service”, now U.S. Pat. No.7,738,407 by Albert T. Chow et al., filed Jul. 26, 2002, the contents ofwhich is incorporated herein by reference in its entirety.

FIELD OF TECHNOLOGY

The present invention relates generally to the area of mobiletelecommunications. More particularly, the present invention alsorelates to an architecture and method by which a wireless local areanetwork (WLAN) provides an IP push-to-talk (IPP2T) service. Moreover,the present invention relates to the area of emulation of conventionalpush-to-talk devices so that private person-to-person andperson-to-group communications can be handled and supported by an IPP2Tnetwork.

BACKGROUND

Private Land Mobile Radio Service (PLMRS) is widely used by private usergroups such as businesses and public service organizations forgeneral-use portable operations such as dispatch, coordination andemergency radio communications. Corporations frequently utilize thesesystems for on-premises and campus activity coordination such asallowing building maintenance, security or medical teams to remain incommunication during normal or extraordinary circumstances. Radios areusually hand-held units and are frequently attached to the user's beltvia a holster. Some applications, such as shipping area electric-carts,hi-lift inventory management, or golf cart-like electric personnelmovers, are fitted with dash-mounted units.

The essence of PLMRS is non-duplexed (simplex) spectrum usage for voicecommunication. That is, the same frequency channel is used for bothdirections of conversation, with a push-button switch being used to keythe transmitter when an individual wishes to call another unit orrespond conversationally. Additionally, all users of a common group in aPLMRS system share the same frequency channel.

Wireless LANs (WLANs), such as the IEEE 802.11 standard, are becomingpopular in business environments as a means of allowing exchange ofcomputer data between laptops and wired LAN systems. Such systemsusually operate, like PLMRS, with both directions of transmissionsharing the same radio resource, but communicate only non-time-bounddata.

Recently, the rise of multimedia content on the Internet has provoked adesire for wireless LAN systems to provide support of time-bound packetstreams in addition to asynchronous data bursts. Such streams maycontain a variety of content such as audio, video, and telephony. Inresponse to the need to support streaming operation, wireless (andwired) LAN-like transmission systems have recently moved toward adoptionof protocols which provide Quality of Service (QoS). These protocolsprovide the ability to allocate portions of the WLAN radio resource(throughput) to individual streams. The protocols usually employ a formof packet reservation via scheduling to minimize delay and contentionduring transmission of the streaming data so as to provide a guaranteedlevel of QoS.

Further, as a result of the development of QoS protocols, for example“MediaPlex” an invention of AT&T Labs, it has become possible to providevoice telephony via wireless LANs. Voice telephony over wired LANfacilities, cable, DSL, and other broadband packet transmission systemsis accomplished by a number of protocols such as H323, media gatewaycontrol protocol (MGCP), session initiation protocol (SIP), etc. Theprotocols are intended to provide full-duplex telephony overtime-segmented, shared resource systems.

The present application is related to application Ser. No. 09/616,900,entitled “An Architectural Reference Model for QoS-Driven WirelessLANs”, invented by I. M. Ho, and filed Jul. 14, 2000; to applicationSer. No. 09/617,439, entitled “Centralized Contention and ReservationRequest for QoS-Driven Wireless LANs” and to application Ser. No.09/616,901, entitled “An In-Band QoS Signaling Reference Model forQoS-Driven Wireless LANs”, invented by W. Lin and I.-M. Ho, and filedJul. 14, 2000; to application Ser. No. 09/617,083, entitled “VirtualStreams for QoS-Driven Wireless LANs”, invented by I.-M. Ho and W. Lin,and filed Jul. 14, 2000; to application Ser. No. 09/616,897, entitled“Admission Control for QoS-Driven Wireless LANs”, invented by W. Lin andJ.-M. Ho, and filed Jul. 14, 2000; to application Ser. No. 09/616,896,entitled “Frame Classification for QoS-Driven Wireless LANs”, inventedby I.-M. Ho and W. Lin, and filed Jul. 14, 2000; to application Ser. No.09/617,493, entitled “Frame Scheduling for QoS-Driven Wireless LANs”,invented by I.-M. Ho and W. Lin, and filed Jul. 14, 2000; to applicationSer. No. 09/617,494, entitled “RSVP/SBM Based Down-Stream Session Setup,Modification, and Teardown for QoS-Driven Wireless LANs”, invented byI.-M. Ho and W. Lin, and filed Jul. 14, 2000; to application Ser. No.09/616,878, entitled “RSVP/SBM Based Up-Stream Session Setup,Modification, and Teardown for QoS-Driven Wireless LANs”, invented byI.-M. Ho and W. Lin, and filed Jul. 14, 2000; to application Ser. No.09/617,440, entitled “RSVP/SBM Based Side-Stream Session Setup,Modification, and Teardown for QoS-Driven Wireless LANs”, invented byI.-M. Ho and W. Lin, and filed Jul. 14, 2000; to application Ser. No.09/616,885, entitled “Enhanced Channel Access Mechanisms for QoS-DrivenWireless LANs”, invented by J. M. Ho and W. Lin, and filed Jul. 14,2000; to application Ser. No. 09/617,439, entitled “CentralizedContention And Reservation Request For QoS-Driven Wireless LANs”,invented by I-M Ho et al., and filed Jul. 14, 2000; and to applicationSer. No. 09/616,884, entitled “Multipoll for QoS-Driven Wireless LANs”,invented by J.-M. Ho and W. Lin, and filed Jul. 14, 2000; each of whichis incorporated by reference herein as to their entire contents. Thepresent application is also related to application Ser. No. 09/880,827,entitled “Broadband Network With Enterprise Wireless CommunicationSystem For Residential And Business Environment”, filed Oct. 1, 2001 andapplication Ser. No. 09/881,111, entitled “Broadband Network WithEnterprise Wireless Communication Method For Residential And BusinessEnvironment”, filed Oct. 1, 2001, each of which is incorporated hereinby reference as to their entire contents.

Voice-over-IP (VoIP) systems using these protocols are beginning toappear as an alternative to conventional circuit-switched telephonenetworks such as PBX and Centrex. Using new QoS-enabled wireless LANs,it is possible to extend VoIP telephony via IEEE 802.11-liketransmission systems to provide mobility. Using the new VoIP capability,businesses may utilize a combination of LAN and wireless LAN resourcesto augment or replace embedded circuit-switched telephony systems. Overthe next decade, such replacements are anticipated to acceleraterapidly, due to a desire to minimize information technology (IT)expenditures by consigning all traffic to a single, unified transmissionsystem. An advantage of wireless LANs with QoS is the ability to supportphased migration to an all-LAN architecture by eliminating the need torapidly convert all conventional phones to VoIP. Such a phased approachminimizes retraining of personnel as well as disturbance of operationsduring a cut-over.

The combination of computers and telephones also provides simplifieduser migration from conventional phones to VoIP with the use of thehigh-resolution touch-screen display. PDA-like instruments withhigh-resolution displays and touch screens are becoming moresophisticated and inexpensive and afford the opportunity to create an“image” of the keypad of the legacy phone on the new VoIP phone. Then,using a “soft” PBX or switch with appropriate software, it is possibleto make the PDA emulate the particular legacy instrument with whichusers have developed comfort.

SUMMARY

The present invention described herein is for a novel and non-obviousservice, which for the first time permits packet-based wireless LANs toemulate person-to-person and person-to-group communicationsrepresentative of Private Land Mobile Radio Service (PLMRS) often called“push-to-talk” radio. PLMRS services are widely employed by private usergroups, businesses and public service organizations for general-useportable operations such as dispatch, coordination, and emergency radiocommunications.

With the substantial use of PLMRS in businesses, it is desirable toprovide a means by which this type of communication service, system, andan emulation of a push-to-talk (PTT) device is available. Availabilityof such a solution would make the WLAN/LAN network capable of replacing“push-to-talk” radios as well as conventional telephones. It would, ofcourse, convert PLMRS operation to digital transmission as well,replacing and improving the analog PM operation commonly employed today.Such operation is entirely new in wireless LAN systems and issubstantially different from conventional telephony processes.

The present invention described herein is for a system and method bywhich a wireless LAN may provide such capability. The present inventionalso contemplates an emulation of a PTT device. In a preferredembodiment, a PTT device is an IP-PTT (IPP2T). It is assumed that thewireless LAN is similar to that specified by IEEE 802.11, enhanced witha QoS protocol such as “MediaPlex”. Neither 802.11 nor MediaPlex will bedescribed herein, as other transmission systems capable of supportingTCP/IP and QoS could be substituted (e.g., DOCSIS). IEEE802.11/MediaPlex is used in the following discussion as an illustrationbecause it has several valuable properties and should not be consideredas limiting the present invention to using Mediaplex. Among the valuablefeatures supported by Mediaplex are:

Base Station/Client architecture for better QoS control;

Availability of “beacon” frames which provide system access information;

Ability to provide overlapping coverage of small cells which may emulatesingle large cell operation;

Increased frequency reuse; and

The ability to provide for communications on an individual basis or on agroup basis, where the groups may be fused on a dynamic basis.

Because the PLMRS emulation operates on the same WLAN system used fordata and VoIP telephony, it is possible to provide additional featuresnot currently available in “push-to-talk” radios. Examples of additionalfeatures include but are not limited to software-switch phone-patch tothe telephone network, data and short message service, pager emulation,location-specific features, automatic (invisible) registration andpolling, high-strength encryption and phone inventory control.

It is, therefore, an object of the present invention to provide anarchitecture that provides IP push-to-talk (IPP2T) services over awireless local area network (WLAN).

It is a further object of the present invention to provide a method forproviding IPP2T services using a WLAN.

It is yet another object of the present invention to provide a wirelessdevice capable of operating in a plurality of modes, including as anIPP2T subscriber terminal, as a voice over IP (VoIP) terminal or as asubscriber terminal, where IPP2T is the default mode and a VoIP callpre-empts the default mode of operation.

It is another object of the present invention to provide a method for auser of such a wireless device to select from among the modes ofoperation.

It is yet another object of the present invention to merge multiplechannels to give the appearance of a shared resource, even though it isnot actually a shared resource.

It is yet a further object of the present invention to emulate apush-to-talk device for use with a WLAN using an enhanced QoS protocol.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The invention is best described with reference to the detaileddescription and the following figures, where:

FIG. 1 is a high-level diagram of the multicast gateway of the presentinvention.

FIG. 2 is an exemplary WLAN Mobile Radio Services (WLMRS) architecture.

FIG. 3 depicts the associated IP “push-to-talk” (IPP2T) service providernetwork elements.

FIG. 4 depicts an exemplary process flow, where a subscriber initiatesIPP2T service from the subscriber terminal.

FIG. 5 depicts an exemplary scenario for broadband access networkterminal (BANT) Multicasting of “push-to-talk” voice stream.

FIG. 6 is a service flow diagram showing AP and ST initialization.

FIG. 7 is a service flow diagram showing the continuation of processingfrom FIG. 6.

FIG. 8 is a service flow diagram of the BANT processing.

FIG. 9 is a service flow diagram showing the continuation of processingfrom FIG. 8.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

The emulation of “push-to-talk” radio services in an IP environmentrequires solution of two problems: merging of multiple voice channels togive the appearance of a shared radio resource, even though it is notactually shared, and emulating the coverage provided by one high-poweredtransmitter (one large-coverage cell) using an aggregation of contiguoussmaller cells via WLAN access points connected to a wired LAN backbone.The second obstacle is identical to that of cellular telephone's“emulation” of an older mobile telephone service, Improved MobileTelephone Service (IMTS), utilizing a network of smaller cells,frequency reuse, registration, a mobility database, and a trunkingbackbone to provide ubiquitous service over the same large area.

WLANs are currently building on frequency/time reuse and time-divisionduplexing combined with packet radio techniques, QoS protocols,mobile-IP and intelligent routers to accomplish the same function withsmaller cells and simplex spectrum. For the purposes of thisdescription, these elements will not be detailed, recognizing that theywill be necessary to provide wireless VoIP telephone service. A usefulcharacteristic of small-cell systems is that a user who associates witha particular access point (AP) implicitly communicates his or herlocation. The property can be useful for ‘man-down’, 911-like, or noresponse situations. Location information of the access point whichreceives the highest signal strength of a particular transmission,stored on the server, can be linked to a user information database andaccessed by an administrator with appropriate privacy and securityclearance. Communication between the WLAN and APs and the AP thathandles a particular communication depends on a channel quality metricor radio resource availability.

Packet communication is, by nature, point-to-point, since packets areindividually addressed to a specific recipient. Conventional PLMRS is aninherently broadcast service wherein communications from a user may bereceived by all users, and where addressing is implicit because the usergroup is known it priori. Variations on this service are so-called“fleet call” services, which allow many users to communicate one at atime with a dispatcher. Such systems may utilize tone call squelch orother means of individually alerting one user without the need to listento communications meant for others. A variety of manufacturers andservice providers supply PLMRS systems, employing both digital andanalog transmission.

FIG. 1 is a high level diagram of the multicast gateway 110 of thepresent invention. The present invention extends packet/VoIP operationof wireless LANs to “IPP2T” service by causing emulated “push-to-talk”units to send packets to a multicast gateway, a new packetprocessing/routing device which may reside either in the packet networkor within the local LAN domain of the users who will form the group ofcommunicating individuals. The multicast gateway is programmed, forexample, by secure web page interactions, so that it contains a list ofknown user packet addresses or other authentication qualifiers. Themulticast gateway subsequently multiplexes each authenticated user's 105packet voice stream 115, presented at its input, onto one or more outputmulticast streams 120. Each multicast stream 120 corresponds to a usergroup, which can consist of as little as two, or as many as themultiplexing capability of the server and capacity of the LAN allow. The“cloud” of FIG. 1 represents a network that encompasses the users 105and the multicast gateway within the IP network conceptually. As will beseen and described below in FIG. 2, the users are in communication withaccess points (APs), which are each in communication with a broadbandaccess network terminal (BANT). A BANT communicates with amulticast-enabled network via a broadband access network. Amulticast-enabled network communicates with an IP network via an edgerouter and the IP network is in communication with a WLAN Mobile RadioService (WLMRS) controller (WLMRSC) via a multicast-enabled router (MR).

An individual carrying an IEEE 802.11-equipped device may then listen tomulticast stream(s) containing all current “transmitting” users' speechwithin the user group of which a particular user is a member. A usercould simply “scroll” through available multicast channels correspondingto available user groups and push the “talk” button to add their voiceto the conversation of the selected user group(s). A publishedarrangement of multicast channels could be instituted to facilitate use.

It should be noted that the architecture of the present invention allowsconsiderable performance and versatility benefits compared toconventional PLMRS systems. In contrast to PLMRS, data conveyed by theservice can be any form of multimedia, including voice, data, and video.For example, a building blueprint could be shared by one user with allother users instantaneously. This might be particularly useful to amaintenance group of a large building or to a fire-fighting unit tolocate personnel in a burning building.

Unlike user-controlled multiplexing of conventional systems,simultaneous “keying” of user devices does not produce the undesirableartifacts which occur in radio systems—beat notes, unintelligibility ofcommunication, etc.—as each user actually has a separate transmittedpacket stream, which is separately decoded and combined with othersbefore retransmission on the downstream multicast channel. To prevent“double talk”, a feature could be added such that “keying” themicrophone on a handset sends a message via the multicast channel whichdisables other microphone keys until that transmission is complete. Thenetwork server decides which user “wins” the channel, providing an“enforced etiquette”.

Interference is also better controlled by the small-cell architecture ofthe WLAN embodiment of the present invention, ensuring bettercommunication quality and boosting overall capacity. Since most PLMRSsystems are analog, the digital voice coding (G.711, for example)provides superior voice quality and increased compatibility withtrunking to other locations. High quality voice coding supportsnetwork-based voice recognition services as a security feature.

An important feature of the system is that users from widely separatedlocations can be multiplexed into a virtual IPP2T coverage area, whichcould include, for example, all security personnel in a corporatecampus, all service-group buildings in an area or state, or evennationwide. User sub-groups can also be formed and/or fused on a dynamicbasis. Such sub-grouping can emulate PLMRS features such asselective-calling or tone squelch. For example, security and maintenanceteams can be configured to have separate virtual PLMRS channels, butusers on these “channels” can be unified under emergency conditions sothat they may interoperate. Likewise, corporate security could monitorall user groups simultaneously while they operate independently amongthemselves.

Because the LAN-like architecture supports redundancy, reliability ofthe system is improved, since single points of failure (e.g., a singlePLMRS base station covering a large area) are eliminated. Using QoSfeatures present in the MediaPlex protocol, priority can be asserted,which enables emergency communication to supercede regular LAN trafficwhen required.

Since the system uses common WLAN infrastructure and client devices,strong encryption can be used to preserve the integrity ofcommunications. The ability to set up secure channels based onnetwork-based key management program provides a high degree of keycontrol, e.g., log-in to a server, add your personal pin/key and becomepart of a secure group (similar to telephone conferencing systems).Since the manipulation of packets may be accomplished by software inclient devices, these emulation devices can rapidly change from PLMRSemulation to conventional VoIP telephony, providing additionalflexibility.

Because IPP2T utilizes the infrastructure of the WLAN, LAN, and packetbackbone in common with voice, data, and streaming multimedia services,it is able to share the costs associated with these services. Since itsoperation is largely processing-dependent, it is well-suited as anetwork-based service so that the cost increment unique to the IPP2Tservice of the present invention may be shared over many users.Secondary communication services which might otherwise not becost-effective could accordingly be accommodated in addition to VoIPtelephony and IPP2T, including for example personal narration ofexhibits in museums/galleries, person-to-person or family communication(e.g., “child finding” in malls), and waiting time/queue-positioncommunication for theme parks, and restaurants. The IPP2T service of thepresent invention can also be used for location-specific information or“help” services, as no telephone number is required to access theresource.

There are several VoIP protocols which may be employed to implementIPP2T, including MGCP, SIP, MEGACO, etc. These protocols may be usedeither in a conferencing mode, where a network-based bridge sets upseparate duplex links to each user in the group of communicating userssimilar to conventional telephony, or the service may be implementedusing the multicast IP message method described above with a “mixer” tomultiplex the separate upstream-only transmissions onto a commondownstream channel heard by all. Those skilled in the art will recognizethat the functions can be realized in a variety of ways.

IPP2T service is within the context of an exemplary packet communicationarchitecture as described herein. The wireless LAN mobile radio service(WLMRS) architecture as depicted in FIG. 2 is defined to support IPP2Tapplication for home 205, neighborhood, small office home office (SOHO)210, business 210 and public 210 environments. In an exemplaryembodiment, the WLMRS architecture integrates the IEEE 802.111Mediaplex-enabled access ports (APs) 215 and subscriber terminals 220,broadband access network terminal (BANT) 225 at home, SOHO and publicenvironments and a IPP2T service provider WLMRS Controller (WLMRSC) 245transparently into a service provider IP network 230.

FIG. 2 is an exemplary WLAN Mobile Radio Services (WLMRS) architecture.Specifically, FIG. 2 depicts a high-level WLMRS architecture withassociated IPP2T required network functional elements. The IEEE 802.11wireless subscriber terminals 220 interface to and interact with APs215, which communicate with a BANT 225 via an Ethernet 10/100 base-Tlink 240. The subscriber terminals 220 can be in a home or neighborhoodenvironment or in a SOHO, business or public environment. BANTs alsointerface with and interact with conventional wired line telephones 250.The BANT's interface to and interact with a multicast-enabled network255 via a broadband access network 260. Multicast-enabled network 255interfaces to and interacts with an IP network 230 via an edge router265 in an exemplary embodiment. WLMRSC 245 interfaces to and interactswith the IP network 230 via a multicast-enabled router (MR) 275 in anexemplary embodiment. The WLMRSC is also in communication with a MRdatabase (DB) 273, which maintains IPP2T subscriber personal and serviceprofiles. The IP network 230 interfaces to and interacts with other ISPs270, content service providers 280, public cellular networks 285, an SS7network 290, and PSTN 295 via edge routers 265 at the IP network sideand via network specific gateways and/or DTs 297 at the specific networkside except for the other ISPs, which interfaces to and interacts withthe IP network via a router 298. The WLMRS network functional elementsinclude the STs, the APs, the BANTs, the WLMRSC, the multicast-enabledrouters (MRs) and the database (DB). The air interface between the STsand the APs is over a WLAN. It is contemplated that the AP and BANT inthe residential environment may be combined into a single AP/BANTdevice.

IP multicast addressing uses Class D IP addresses (i.e., 224.0.0.0 to239.255.255.255) as specified by IETF RFC 1112. Each BANT is assigned aClass D IP address during service initialization processes performed bythe WLMRSC. The Class D IP address is passed to the subtending APs andSTs by the BANT during IPP2T service initiation to define a multicastgroup.

In order to provide network-centric IPP2T services at home, SOHO andpublic environments with the QoS, the network functions associated withthe IPP2T are distributed strategically towards network functionalelements located at the edge of the services provider IP network asfollows:

Mediaplex-enabled IEEE 802.11 subscriber terminal (ST) 220—the ST can beany wireless terminal (e.g., VoIP phone, PDA etc.) that supports IEEE802.11 with Mediaplex functions enabled and it provides the followingkey functions associated with IPP2T:

Support multicasting process as standardized by Internet EngineeringTask Force (IETF) Request for Comment (RFC) 1112.

Support IEEE 802.11 Common Air interfaces (CAI) with Mediaplexcapabilities.

Support user interfaces related to the IPP2T service launch, Voice overIP (VoIP) telephony and data mode of service.

Support information (i.e., voice, data and IPP2T) exchange between APs,BANT and WLMRSC via IEEE 802.11 CAI and a service provider IP network.

Support signaling and control information exchanged between APs, BANTand WLMRSC via IEEE 802.11 CAI and a service provider IP network.

Support mobility for terminal, personal and service management. TheIPP2T service is rendered to all subscribers/member/communicators of agroup anytime, anywhere and with any device including a telephone, PDA,LaptopIPC, etc. When a member of the IPP2T group travels, thatmember/subscriber (personal roaming) is enabled via subscriberregistration to the WLMRSC from a remote location. For example, when aroaming IPP2T subscriber turns on his/her communication device at alocal BANT, the local BANT proceeds to register the IPP2T subscriber asa “roamer” (user out of his or her normal operating area) and forwardsthe registration to the WLMRSC together with a temporary IP address. TheWLMRSC informs the subscriber's home BANT to complete the registrationprocess. The home BANT processes the IPP2T information to/from theremote BANT to complete the service based on the temporary IP address.

Support authentication, authorization and accounting (AAA) services andassociated network control and signaling exchange based on IETF RFC 2865Remote Authentication Dial-In User Service (RADIUS) Standard.

Support calls and features application via standard IP network protocolsincluding SIP, MGCP, etc.

Support sending/receiving multicast applications associated with Userdatagram Protocol (UDP), Internet Protocol (IP), Internet ControlMessage Protocol (ICMP) and Internet Group Management Protocol (IGMP).

Support related network interface card (NIC) and drivers that willfilter IPP2T related link layer and network IP layer multicastaddresses.

Mediaplex-enabled IEEE 802.11 Access Ports (APs) 215—the AP is a WLANdevice that provides interworking functions to the subtending STs viaMediaplex enabled IEEE 802.11 CAI. The APs connect directly to the wireLAN (e.g., 10/100 base-T Ethernet) for access to the BANT and in turn toWLMRSC to support integrated voice, data, multimedia and IPP2T services.The APs provide the following key functions associated with the IPP2Tservices:

Support multicasting process as standardized by IETF RFC 1112.

Support multicast routing functions related to IPP2T services.

Support IEEE 802.11 operation with Mediaplex QoS capabilities.

Support IPP2T service launch, Voice over IP (VoIP) telephony and datamode of services.

Support information (i.e., voice, data, multimedia and IPP2T) exchangebetween APs, BANT and WLMRSC via IEEE 802.11 CAI and a service providerIP network.

Support signaling and control information exchanged between APs, BANTand WLMRSC via IEEE 802.11 CAI and a service provider IP network.

Support mobility for terminal, personal and services management. TheIPP2T service is rendered to all subscribers/member/communicators of agroup anytime, anywhere and with any device including a telephone, PDA,Laptop/PC, etc. When a member of the IPP2T group travels, thatmember/subscriber (personal roaming) is enabled via subscriberregistration to the WLMRSC from a remote location. For example, when aroaming IPP2T subscriber turns on his/her communication device at alocal BANT, the local BANT proceeds to register the IPP2T subscriber asa roamer and forwards the registration to the WLMRSC together with atemporary IP address. The WLMRSC informs the subscriber's home BANT tocomplete the registration process.

The home BANT processes the IPP2T information to/from the remote BANT tocomplete the service based on the temporary IP address.

Support authentication, authorization and accounting (AAA) services andassociated network control and signaling exchange based on IETF RFC 2865RADIUS Standard.

Support calls and features application via standard IP network protocolsincluding SIP, MGCP, etc.

Support RF and radio management processes related to IPP2T services.

Support OAM&P processes related to IPP2T services.

Support security management processes including subscriberauthentication, data encryption for privacy when necessary for the IPP2Tservices.

Support wire LAN network interface and inter-working for informationexchange associated with IPP2T service.

Support sending/receiving multicast applications associated with Userdatagram Protocol (UDP), Internet Protocol (IP), Internet ControlMessage Protocol (ICMP) and Internet Group Management Protocol (IGMP).

Support related network interface card (NIC) and drivers that willfilter IPP2I related link layer and network IP layer multicastaddresses.

BANT 225—the BANT can be any residential, SOHO, business and publicenvironment service provider's broadband network access termination.Such devices may be capable of supporting xDSL, cable, fiber, fixedbroadband, wireless, and free-space optical transmission systems (e.g.,LMDS, MMDS, Free Space Optic, satellite, T1/DS1 etc.) operating under IPwith link layer processes that support either Frame Relay, A TM with orwithout MPLS/VPN for best QoS. The BANT provides the following keyfunctions associated with the IPP2T services:

Support multicasting processes as standardized by IETF RFC 1112.

Support multicasting routing functions related to IPP2T services.

Support IEEE 802.11 protocols with Mediaplex capabilities.

Support IPP2T service launch, Voice over IP (VoIP) telephony and datamode of services.

Support information (i.e., voice, data and IPP2T) exchange between APsand WLMRSC via LAN and a service provider IP network.

Support signaling and control information exchanged between APs andWLMRSC via LAN and a service provider IP network.

Support mobility for terminal, personal and services management. TheIPP2T service is rendered to all subscribers/member/communicators of agroup anytime, anywhere and with any device including a telephone, PDA,Laptop/PC, etc. When a member of the IPP2T group travels, thatmember/subscriber (personal roaming) is enabled via subscriberregistration to the WLMRSC from a remote location. For example, when aroaming IPP2T subscriber turns on his/her communication device at alocal BANT, the local BANT proceeds to register the IPP2T subscriber asa roamer and forwards the registration to the WLMRSC together with atemporary IP address. The WLMRSC informs the subscriber's home BANT tocomplete the registration process. The home BANT processes the IPP2Tinformation to/from the remote BANT to complete the service based on thetemporary IP address.

Support media stream mixing (e.g., digital speech stream combining) andmulticasting of information associated with IPP2T services.

Support authentication, authorization and accounting (AAA) services andassociated network control and signaling exchange based on IETF RF 2865RADIUS Standard.

Support calls and features application via standard IP network protocolsincluding SIP, MGCP, etc.

Support RF and radio management processes related to IPP2T services.

Support OAM&P processes related to IPP2T services.

Support security management processes including subscriberauthentication, data encryption for privacy when necessary for the IPP2Tservices.

Support wire LAN network interface and inter-working for informationexchange associated to IPP2T service.

Support inter-working functions with other BANT and WLMRSC for IPP2Tassociated services, user data and signaling command control informationexchange.

Support sending/receiving multicast applications associated with Userdatagram Protocol (UDP), Internet Protocol (IP), Internet ControlMessage Protocol (ICMP) and Internet Group Management Protocol (IGMP).

Support related network interface card (NIC) and drivers that willfilter IPP2T related link layer and network IP layer multicastaddresses.

Support firewall that permits IP multicast traffic.

WLMRSC 245—the WLMRSC is a server-based intelligent network servicemanager, which interworks with the subtending BANTs to support networkcentric IPP2T services. The WLMRSC provides the network managementprocessing necessary to initiate IPP2T. The key network functionsassociated with the IPP2T services are:

Support multicasting processes as standardized by IETF RFC 1112.

Support multicasting routing functions related to IPP2T services.

Support system and subscriber database management related to thesubscriber profile, IPP2T multicast team assignments, AAA, mobility,calls and features applications.

Support IPP2T service launch and initiation.

Support signaling and control information exchanged between APs and BANTvia a service provider IP network.

Support mobility for personal and service management. The IPP2T serviceis rendered to all subscribers/member/communicators of a group anytime,anywhere and with any device including a telephone, PDA, Laptop/PC, etc.When a member of the IPP2T group travels, that member/subscriber(personal roaming) is enabled via subscriber registration to the WLMRSCfrom a remote location. For example, when a roaming IPP2T subscriberturns on his/her communication device at a local BANT, the local BANTproceeds to register the IPP2T subscriber as a roamer and forwards theregistration to the WLMRSC together with a temporary IP address. TheWLMRSC informs the subscriber's home BANT to complete the registrationprocess. The home BANT processes the IPP2T information to/from theremote BANT to complete the service based on the temporary IP address.

Support authentication, authorization and accounting (AAA) services andassociated network control and signaling exchange based on IETF RFC 2865RADIUS standard.

Support calls and features application via standard IP network protocolsincluding SIP, MGCP, etc.

Support RF and radio management processes with BANT related to IPP2Iservices.

Support OAM&P processes with BANT and APs related to IPP2I services.

Support security management processes including subscriberauthentication, data encryption for privacy when necessary for the IPP2Iservices.

Support inter-working functions with other BANT and WLMRSC for IPP2Iassociated services, user data and signaling command control informationexchange.

Support sending/receiving multicast applications associated with Userdatagram Protocol (UDP), Internet Protocol (IP), Internet ControlMessage Protocol (ICMP) and Internet Group Management Protocol (IGMP).

Support related network interface card (NIC) and drivers that willfilter IPP2I related link layer and network IP layer multicastaddresses.

Support firewall that permits IP multicast traffic.

Multicast-Enabled Router (MR)—the MR are intermediate routers thatinterface between the IP network and the WLMRSC and also interfacebetween the BANTs and the Multicast-Enabled Network. The MR providesnetwork functions as follows:

Support sending/receiving multicast applications associated with Userdatagram Protocol (UDP), Internet Protocol (IP), Internet ControlMessage Protocol (ICMP) and Internet Group Management Protocol (IGMP).

Support conventional IP information routing.

MR Database (DB)—the MR DB is associated with the WLMRSC and maintainsIPP2T subscriber personal and service profiles.

FIG. 3 depicts an exemplary architecture diagram of the presentinvention particularly pointing out the network elements (shaded) thatbelong to a IPP2T services provider. Specifically, the BANT, WLMRSC, MRsand DB are IPP2T network elements that form a part of the IP servicesprovider network. FIG. 3 is otherwise the same as FIG. 2 including beinglabeled similarly. It should be noted that the BANT and the WLMRSC arealso WLMRS network functional elements as well as being IPP2T networkelements.

The BANT is designed to allow online/automatic update of IPP2T softwarefor new services and applications from the WLMRSC to provide IPP2T as apart of service provider network IP-centric services.

To support IPP2T service, the AP, BANT and WLMRSC and associatednetworks must be IP multicast-enabled including intermediate routers(Multicast-enabled routers (MRs)). The IPP2T supports IP multicastingmethodology as specified in IETF RFC 1112, which is also an extension ofthe standard IP network level protocol. IP multicasting transmits IPdatagrams from a subscriber/communicator to the BANT and, in turn, toall listeners in a host group(s) identified by a single IP destinationaddress. The datagrams or push-to-talk audio information from thesubscriber or communicator is delivered to all listeners of apre-registered destination group with the same “best-effort” reliabilityas regular unicast datagrams. The membership of an IPP2T group isdynamic. Members may join or leave the group at any time via theregistration/de-registration process with the WLMRSC via the BANT. Whena subscriber/member initiates a new IPP2T group, a new IP-multicastingaddress is assigned by the WLMRSC and, in turn, the BANT initializesservices. There is no restriction on the location or number of membersin an IPP2T group and each BANT may be a host for more than one IPP2Tgroup. At the application level, a multicast address may supportmultiple data streams on different port numbers, on different socketswith one or more simultaneously operated applications including anon-going IPP2T session, video conferencing and/or broadcasting in amultimedia environment. The IPP2T may be operated on a Local AreaNetwork (LAN) hosted via a BANT in a residential, SOHO, public and/orbusiness environment or it may operate over a Wide Area Network (WAN)environment supported by intermediate routers (MRs) between differentBANTs. For larger network or IPP2T application, additional WLMRSCs maybe needed to support different service regions or zones. Therefore,WLMRSCs must have the capability to communicate with each other viaTCP/IP for ease of supporting WAN-associated IPP2T subscriber roaming,member authentication, registration and subscriber database/profilemanagement processes.

The IPP2T capable terminal (e.g., VoIP phone or PDA with IPP2T/IEEE802.11/Mediaplex functions enabled) is designed to support the followingmodes of operations:

IPP2T only mode—when selected, the IPP2T is the default and only mode ofoperation.

IPP2T and VoIP mode—when selected the IPP2T will be the default mode ofoperation except the VoIP service supersedes the IPP2T service. Whenthere is an incoming call, the IPP2T will be temporarily pre-empted toallow servicing of incoming VoIP call(s). The IPP2T will resume serviceat the end of the VoIP call.

-   -   VoIP mode—when selected, the VoIP is the default and only mode        of operation.

Registration—subscriber requesting IPP2T service with registrationprocess via BANT to WLMRSC. During registration, the WLMRSCauthenticates the subscriber and then authorizes the services.

FIG. 4 is a service flow diagram 400 that depicts the IPP2T only modeservice scenarios as follows:

Subscriber selects IPP2T from ST's man-machine interface at 405.

At 410, the ST initiates IPP2T service via IP application layerprotocols (e.g., SIP, MGCP, etc.) to the AP. AP in turn interworks withthe BANT and WLMRSC to initialize the IPP2T service. If the WLMRSCvalidates the request from the ST, the AP will acknowledge the STrequest and setup the IPP2T service. The ST then starts the IPP2Tservice and initializes the “listen-mode”. The ST polls the AP andcontinues to keep communication with the AP open until it receives aresponse indicating that initialization is complete. At 415,initialization completion is tested. If initialization is not complete,execution at 410 continues. If initialization is complete, then“listen-mode” is initialized at 420.

While in “listen mode” at 420, the ST monitors testing to see if thesubscriber initiates “push-to-talk” at 425. If the subscriber initiates“push-to-talk”, then the subscriber using the ST talks at 440 and the STforwards the digitized speech to the AP at 445. The ST is polled at 450until it receives notification that the subscriber has released thepush-to-talk button, at which time the ST returns to listen mode. If at425 it is determined that the subscriber did not initiate“push-to-talk”, then a determination is made at 430 if the subscriberterminated the IPP2T service. If service is terminated, then the ST goesback to previously pre-programmed default mode of operation. The BANTgenerates a call detail record (CDR) for WLMRSC at 435.

It should be clear that the push-to-talk button may be supplanted by anintelligent system that uses voice-operated transmission (VOX). This isa speakerphone-like feature that turns on the transmitter when theperson holding the unit speaks. That is, the intelligent system could beessentially voice-activated. Further, a “soft” button activated by afinger or a stylus could be available on the PLMRS emulator—for example,a PDA. The “soft” button could perform almost the exact oppositefunction than a push-to-talk. That is, the “soft” button could operateas a “mute” button so that no unintentional conversations are broadcast.Most PDAs that might be used as emulators also emulate conventional“mouse” buttons which can also be used to emulate either push-to-talk ormute.

FIG. 5 depicts the IPP2T service scenarios. When the subscriberactivates the push-to-talk button, the voice stream will be captured bythe ST. The ST will digitize the captured speech and transport thedigitized speech by Mediaplex-enabled IEEE 802.11 transmission to theAP. The AP, in turn, sends the digitized voice stream via a LAN to theBANT for processing. Normally, when an ST wishes to send packets, thepackets are retransmitted to all other STs, including the one whichinitiated the transmission. Optionally, when a particular terminaldepresses the push-to-talk button, the BANT may be configured to sendthat ST's voice stream to all STs having the same pre-assignedmulticasting address, but not to the one which originated thetransmission, since that one is assumed to be “talking”. Likewise, theBANT sends the digitized voice stream only to those STs in the listenmode. A separate confirmation signal may be sent to the ST designated bythe WLMRSC as the current “talker” to confirm that that user hasobtained the communication resource. The confirmation signal may be usedto provide positive indication to a user (via an LED for example), thathe or she is “on the air.” The function is similar to the “In-Use”indicator on cellular phones.

FIG. 6 is a service flow diagram 600 showing AP and ST initializationfor IPP2T service as follows:

An AP sends a request to validate and authenticate a subscriber via asignaling command to a BANT which in turn forwards the request to aWLMRSC. This initiates BANT-WLMRSC processing indicated by 610 andcontinued as on FIG. 8. A return value or indication is received by thisroutine in the form of an “ack” or “nack”. The return indication isqueried at 615; and if the return indication is a nack, then at 620 thesubscriber is determined to have failed authentication/validation and anack is sent back to the BANT and the AP and the routine/programterminates. If an ack is received as a return indication, then at 625the WLMRSC sends a multicast address to the BANT and the BANT acks theWLMRSC and investigates if the request is for a new session or a sessionalready in process (on-going session).

A determination is made at 630 with a query if the session is on-goingor new. If the session is on-going, then at 635 the BANT includes thenew subscriber's IP address to the WLMRSC session and acks the AP. At640, the AP uses the multicast address and assigns slots in the superframe based on MediaPLex standard procedures and completes servicesinitialization by asking the subscriber/communicator with the multicastaddress also. Processing continues in accordance with FIG. 7 and pointedto by continuation bubble 650. If the session is a new session, then at645 the BANT initializes a WLMRSC session by engaging the multicastprocesses and then acks the AP. Processing then proceeds at 640 asdescribed above.

FIG. 7 is a service flow diagram that shows the continuation ofprocessing from 650 of FIG. 6. FIG. 7 depicts the AP process leading toa WLMRSC ack or nack as part of ST IPP2T services initiation request. Adetermination is made at 705 whether there has been an ack or nack fromthe AP. If there has been a nack, then processing ends. At 710, if therehas been an ack, then the subscriber/communicator initializes hardwareand software with the designated MAC layer address (for the BANT) and amulticast address. The IPP2T ST then goes into listen mode as indicatedat 715 and the routine/program ends.

FIG. 8 is a service flow diagram 800 of the BANT—WLMRSC processingcalled at 610 on FIG. 6. FIG. 8 depicts the scenario that the WLMRSCvalidates the available network resources for serving the servicerequest from the ST regardless of whether it is a new session or anon-going (already in process or add-on) session. A determination is madeat 805 if additional WLMRSC resources are available. If additionalWLMRSC resources are not available, then a nack is returned at 810 andthis routine/program returns to the calling routine/program at 815. Ifadditional WLMRSC resources are available, then the multicasting processis initialized with the WLMRSC assigned address at 820. At 825, hardwareand software are initialized; and upon completion of thisinitialization, an ack is sent to the AP. Continuation bubble 830indicates that processing continues at FIG. 9.

FIG. 9 is a service flow diagram 900 and is a continuation of theprocessing of FIG. 8. FIG. 9 depicts the scenario where the WLMRSCauthenticates a subscriber's service request. All authenticationrequests are performed in accordance with the IETF RFC 2865 RADIUSStandard. At 905, an attempt is made to authenticate a subscriber basedon stored subscriber profile information. This process is in accordancewith the IETF RFC 2865 RADIUS Standard. A determination is made at 910if authentication/validation was successful. Ifauthentication/validation was not successful, then a nack is indicatedat 915 and this routine/program returns to the calling routine/programat 920. If authentication/validation was successful, then at 925 adetermination is made if this is a new session or an on-going (alreadyin process) session. If it is a new session, then at 930 a multicastgroup is identified based on the subscriber's profile and allocated amulticast address and a new session is initiated. At 935, an ack is sentto the BANT and the AP and this program then returns to the callingprogram at 920. If this is an on-going (already in process/add-on)session, then at 940 the subscriber is included into the existingsession based on a unique multicast group number assigned earlier and anack is sent to the BANI and the AP at 935.

It should be noted that any references to hardware or software can beinterchanges and especially that application-specific integratedcircuits (ASICs) and/or filed programmable gate arrays (FPGAs) may besubstituted where appropriate.

It should be clear from the foregoing that the objectives of theinvention have been met. While particular embodiments of the presentinvention have been described and illustrated, it should be noted thatthe invention is not limited thereto since modifications may be made bypersons skilled in the art. The present application contemplates any andall modifications within the spirit and scope of the underlyinginvention disclosed and claimed herein.

1. A system, comprising: a broadband access network terminal configured to interact with an access point; a multicast-enabled network configured to interact with the broadband access network terminal; an internet protocol network configured to interact with, the multicast-enabled network via an edge router; and a wireless local area network mobile radio service controller configured to interact with the internet protocol network via a multicast-enabled router.
 2. The system of claim 1, wherein the internet protocol network is further configured to interact with a public switched telephone network via a public switched telephone network gateway.
 3. The system of claim 1, wherein the internet protocol network is further configured to interact with an SS7 network via an SS7 gateway.
 4. The system of claim 1, wherein the internet protocol network is further configured to interact with a public cellular network via a public cellular network gateway.
 5. The system of claim 1, wherein the internet protocol network is further configured to interact with a content service provider via a content service provider gateway.
 6. The system of claim 1, wherein the Internet protocol network is further configured to interact with an internet service provider via a router.
 7. The system of claim 1, wherein the broadband access network terminal interacts with the access point via a local area network, wherein the local area network is Ethernet 10/100 base-T.
 8. The system of claim 1, wherein the broadband access network terminal interacts with the access point via a wireless local area network.
 9. The system of claim 8, wherein the wireless local area network uses a quality-of-service protocol.
 10. The system of claim 1, wherein the broadband access network terminal interacts with the access point via a wireless local area network, wherein the wireless local area network utilizes a small-cell architecture.
 11. A method comprising: receiving packetized information and control signaling from an access point at a broadband access network terminal; sending the packetized information and the control signaling from the broadband access network terminal to a multicast-enabled network via a broadband access network; routing the packetized information and the control signaling between the multicast-enabled network and an internet protocol network via an edge router; and directing the packetized information and the control signaling to a wireless local area network mobile radio system controller via a multicast-enabled router.
 12. The method of claim 11, wherein the packetized information and control signaling are received from the access point at the broadband access network terminal via a local area network.
 13. The method of claim 12, further comprising: sending the packetized information and control signaling over the air from the access point to a subscriber terminal via the local area network.
 14. The method of claim 13, wherein the broadband access network terminal supports media stream mixing of the packetized information.
 15. The method of claim 14, wherein the media stream mixing of the packetized information is associated with a push-to-talk service.
 16. The method of claim 15, wherein the push-to-talk service comprises an internet protocol push to talk service.
 17. The method of claim 13, wherein the broadband access network terminal supports multicasting of the packetized information.
 18. The method of claim 17, wherein the multicasting of the packetized information is associated with a protocol push-to-talk service.
 19. The method of claim 18, wherein the protocol push-to-talk service comprises an internet protocol push-to-talk service.
 20. The method of claim 13, wherein the broadband access network terminal supports media stream mixing of the packetized information and multicasting of the packetized information. 